Baraju laughed and said, “Go on, eat your food. Once you’ve thrown water on the fire, I’ll say what I have to.” Rupa seemed as if she was about to leave for home, but Bancha stopped her. He said, “Barajua, you’re a real scholar—how cleverly you said all that!”

Rupa replied, “Scholar, is he? Barunei’s son, the village idiot, what does he know about speaking? Has he ever been an Amin? Did he ever go to school? Did the government ever give him a job just like that?”

Chapter Ten

The next Baisakh, there was a wedding at Sunar’s house—the paddy was threshed, the grain was stored, the cows and bullocks were tied up, and the house was filled with the fragrance of new rice.

Why?

Nebamani sat down and said, “Go to our house and give them the news.”

Chakada looked up at the sky—would it rain or not? What was to be done?

Chakada’s mind was restless—he thought, if he left, there would be gossip in the village. For six months, Baraju worked at the headman’s house, and for the other six months, he worked at the landlord’s or at his own house, tending to the main crop. Hearing this from Chakada, the household fell silent, as if struck dumb.

Chhakada said, “Hey, didn’t you understand?”

Sana replied, “What are you saying—if we separate, will there be any benefit tomorrow?”

“Oh, what will you understand from that—do whatever Bhaba said, do as he does—will you go to sell the plough cattle in the market tomorrow?”

Sana said, “Eh, selling the plough cattle—I really don’t understand anything about it. Will this happen? Who knows if this will happen—maybe at the village council. Among thousands of people, only a few have golden heads.”

“Who told you to play so clever, Sana? Just do what Bhaba said.”

“All right, all right, we’re simple folk—what power do we have in this matter?” he thought to himself, “These people? Baraju is good in the council, and others are good in the fields!”

Baraju had gone to buy bullocks and had been away from home for two days; when he returned home, he heard everything. With a hearty laugh, Muruka said to Harabou, “Well, that’s good—if the household increases by four or five members, what’s the harm?”

“Yes, it’s good, what do we lack in that?”

Harabou laughed. Whether she understood anything or not, she knew this much: whatever Baraju does, he does with a true heart, whatever—

He speaks only the plain truth. If Aj Bhenika laughs, it is not because he does not understand—he is in no way less than Baraju in any matter.

Baraju went and said to Sao, “Hey Sao. Whose land is this, Mruga?”

“This is five manias—Chak Muga!”

“Ah, has the muga been threshed already?” Sao replied, “Yes, yesterday the muga was harvested—do you want to put it in your barn?”

“What is my barn, Aj? Whose barn is this?” Baraju smiled quietly.

Sano said, “Look, is this